Costs-benefits of treating epilepsy patients in Primary Health Care system (PHC)

Data for this study were collected via questionnaire and interview with families of patients and checking their medical folders. This study was based on cost-benefit analysis technique and the dependant variables included cost, benefit (the economic consequences of increasing working hours for patients and decreasing patient and family-centered care), outpatient visits and hospitalization days. The results of study on depressed patients displayed that the average of annual outpatient visits of treatment group was considerably more than that of control group and their average annual cost was less. As well, the average annual benefit of patients in treatment group was more than that of depressed patients in control group. These results were working for epilepsy patients, too. For schizophrenia patients, the average hospitalization days, average of annual outpatient visits and average annual cost did not show significant difference in both treatment and control groups. However, hospitalization days and annual cost for control group were rather more than those for treatment group and annual outpatient visits in treatment group was more than that in control group. For schizophrenia patients as well, like depressed and epilepsy patients, average annual cost in treatment group was markedly more than that in control group. Furthermore, average annual cost for all patients was markedly less in treatment group. Decreased costs of patients of treatment group despite their frequent visits can be considered as the positive effect of merging system of mental health in PHC. Moreover, the increased benefits of patients in treatment group displayed that the economical aspects of treatment effect in merging system is considerable.